A DALES mum is celebrating the opening of a "pre-loved" fundraising shop to help support people with curvature of the spine.

Jane Richmond, of High Bentham, hopes her new venture will raise awareness of the condition Scoliosis, which most often starts in children aged 10 to 15 and leads to an S-shaped backbone.

Jane was inspired to set up Scoliosis Choices & Support UK - a not-for-profit fundraising group - after her 16-year-old son Daniel had corrective surgery on his spine last autumn.

Like other families before them, Daniel and his parents Jane and Shaun travelled to Germany so the teen could have an operation called vertebral body tethering, or VBT.

As Jane explained, this procedure pioneered in the USA straightens the spine using screws and thread to retain flexibility, and is less invasive than fusion, the treatment available on the NHS which fuses the vertebrae and leaves the spine rigid.

Jane told the Gazette that Daniel had made a good recovery and, because of the op, can now pursue his college course to become a plumber and heating engineer.

The shop that opened on Bentham's Main Street yesterday (Wednesday) will initially be fundraising to cover the £40,000 costs of Daniel's surgery, consultations and travel, which the family remortgaged their house to cover. Jane hopes to heighten the profile of Scoliosis, share information and to raise money to help sufferers achieve their choice of corrective surgery or non-surgical pain-free management

She has set up a Facebook page - Scoliosis VBT/ASC Fusion Free - designed to help teens, families and adults living with the often-painful condition to find advice and support.

"We are keen to hear from anyone who would be interested in helping out at the shop and welcome donations," said Jane. "Volunteering in our shop will be a great way to meet new people and make friends while helping to support people with Scoliosis. Even if you only have a few hours spare a month, it will all help to make a difference.”

The shop will offer good-quality "pre-loved" clothes, shoes, accessories, bric a brac, toys, books and household items. "It will also be an open and friendly place where everyone will be welcome to pop in for a chat, or to find out about the work we are doing to raise awareness to Scoliosis," added the mum.